Durban System Archives - The Ulwazi Programme

I-Sharpeville neNdaba yaseCato Manor

Usuku Lomhlaba Wonke Lwamalungelo Abantu lugujwa ngomhlaka 10 Disemba njalo ngonyaka ukuhlonishwa ukwamukelwa kweZizwe Ezihlangene zincela ku- Universal Declaration of Human Rights ngo-1948. Kodwa eNingizimu Afrika sikhumbula uSuku Lwamalungelo Abantu ngomhlaka 21 Mashi, ukukhumbula imicimbi eyenzeka ngalolu suku ngo-1960, ngesikhathi amaphoyisa evulela ngenhlamvu ebhekise kubabhikishi, abulala abantu abangama-69, futhi alimaza kabi abanye abangu-180. Akwaziwa ngokuqiniseka … Read more

Uhlelo lweTheku noMthetho Wotshwala Besintu

Phakathi enkabeni yeTheku endaweni entsha eyisimodeni iRivertown kukhona iRivertown Beerhall, okuyindawo yokuzijabulisa egcwala intsha engamaciko nevela ezindaweni ezingaphandle kwaleli dolobha ezozitika ngobuhle nobumnandi obutholakala kuleli dolobha. Nokho le ndawo yokucima ukoma ebukeka ikhululekile inomlando omubi walezi zindawo zotshwala ezazibizwa ngama-beerhall (oluhhohho), ezaziyingxenye yohlelo lukahulumeni wengcindezelo eThekwini “iDurban System”. Lolu wuhlelo olwandulela uMthetho Wamapasi ka-1952 olwaluyindlela … Read more

Sharpeville and the Story of Cato Manor

Internationally Human Rights Day is celebrated on the 10th December each year in honour of the United Nations’ adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. But in South Africa we commemorate Human Rights Day on the 21st March, in acknowledgment of the events that took place on this day in 1960, when the police opened fire … Read more

Day of Reconciliation

Next Friday, on the 16th December, South Africa celebrates the Day of Reconciliation. But while the public holiday in its current form has only been in existence since 1995, the 16th December has been commemorated in South Africa since 1910, when it was originally referred to as Dingaan’s Day. It was on this day that 470 Voortrekkers, … Read more

The Durban System and the Native Beer Act

In the heart of Durban’s hip new Rivertown is the Rivertown Beerhall, a social space filled with young creatives and out-of-towners taking in the sites and sounds of Durban’s newly gentrified CBD. But the relaxed bar belies the dark history of these beerhalls, that were a central part of the ‘Durban System’. A precursor to the dreaded … Read more